Creamy Caesar Dressing

Caesar salad dressing is an anomaly to me. You know those recipes that awaken your senses and make you hungry as you read them? You can smell the aroma of spices and herbs, feel the heat from a saute pan, even imagine the taste of the finished dish. This is the kind of religious experience I get from some recipes anyway. However, when you read a caesar dressing recipe, the list of ingredients includes mayonnaise, garlic, ANCHOVIES?? Reading a caeser dressing recipe is not a lost-in-thought-and-longing kind of experience. Eating fresh greens dressed in this creamy emulsion, however, definitely is. Each ingredient is so strong and distinct in flavor, the end result is a salty, smooth smack in the taste buds. Before you embark on this simple recipe, you may need to confront one concerning ingredient. I'm going to spring it on you right now.  

These are anchovy fillets. They come in a can. They smell, feel, and look revolting. When minced and blended into this dressing, they are absolutely divine. There's no need to be too afraid, if you have ever eaten a caesar salad, you've eaten an anchovy fillet. You were brave and didn't even know it!

You may use fresh lemon juice and fresh garlic if desired. Do not, however, substitute Miracle Whip for the mayonnaise. Miracle Whip has it's own flavor while mayonnaise is a velvety, blank canvas for thickening and enriching this dressing.

Using a stand blender or immersion blender, combine garlic, minced anchovy fillets, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and mayonnaise. Pulse until combined.

With the blender running, add a thin stream of olive oil until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Make sure to taste before you add more salt as the parmesan cheese and anchovies add a lot of salty flavor to the dressing.

Now, make a caesar salad like this using these!

Creamy Caesar Dressing

adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves, minced
5 anchovy fillets, minced
3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese, finely grated
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a blender or using an immersion blender, combine garlic, minced anchovy fillets, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and mayonnaise. Pulse until completely combined. (Alternately, whisk these ingredients together in a medium size bowl.)

With the blender running, or while whisking constantly, add olive oil in a thin, steady stream until dressing is thick. Salt and pepper to taste.